Ladder



R. L. THOMAS May 27, 1958 LADDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1954 ROBERT 1.. THOMAS INVENTdR. 7 M

A TTOR/VEX y 1958 R. L. THOMAS 2,836,337

LADDER Filed Aug. 2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROBERT L. THOMAS, IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

' similar parts in the several views.

United States i atent O F LADDER Robert L. Thomas, Brawley, Calif., assignor of forty-nine percent to Keigi Asamen, Brawley, Calif.

Application August 2, 1954, Serial No. 447,065

3 Claims. (Cl. 228-23) The present invention relates generally to ladders and relates more specifically to multi-position ladders including means for positively latching the various components of the composite ladder in several different positions of use and stowage.

Heretofore, many attempts have been made toward the production of multi-position ladder arrangements however, most of the devices of this type have been extremely complex, have lacked a positive means for latching the ladder components in various positions of use and have failed in the provision of a simplified mechanism enabling adjustment and placement of the various components in different positions for use.

Accordingly, it is one important object of the present invention to provide a composite ladder having novel means for positioning the components of the ladder in various positions of use and for positively locking these components in such positions.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a composite ladder having simplified structure enabling the folding thereof in a compact manner to enable efiicient stowage and/ or packaging for shipment.

It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a composite ladder having novel means cooperable with ladder components in all positions of 1 The invention also has as its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describes one preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

With reference to the drawings:

Fig. l is perspective view showing the composite ladder of the present invention positioned for stowage thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the junction connection between ladder elements with such elements arranged for coextensive use;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view partially in section showing the various ladder components in position for folded use; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the latching mechanism intermediate ladder elements as taken substantially as indicated by line 4-4, Fig. 2.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate With reference primarily to Figs. 1 and 2, the composite ladder of the present invention comprises generally a pair of ladder Patented May 27, 1i5

elements designated as a lower element indicated generally at 10 and an upper element indicated generally at 11. The elements 10 and 11 are hingedly mounted in relation to one another as by a hinge structure indicated generally at 12 there being a latch structure indicated generally at 13 for maintaining the elements in coextensive relationship and a latch element indicated generally at 14 for maintaining the elements in folded relationship.

The ladder element 10 comprises side rails 15 and 16, the lower ends of which are flared outwardly as at 17. The rails 15 and 16 are made up from angle members having the widest side thereof adjacent the outer extremities of the ladder element 19. A plurality of steps 18 are disposed between the rails 15 and 16. Each of the steps 18 are made from angle members having end tabs 23 that are formed from the steps and provide means for securing the steps 18 to the rails 15 and 16 as by suitable rivets 21 or the like. The material from which the steps 18 are made is similar to the material from which the rails 15 and 16 are constructed with the shorter side of the an le steps 18 being disposed adjacent the shorter side of the side rail angle members 15 and 16 in order to add rigidity to the step structure and prevent undesirable twisting thereof.

The upper ends of the side rails 15 and 16 are provided with integral plate portions 22 that are substantially rectangular and extend outwardly therefrom. The plate portions 22 are each provided with L-shaped slots 23 which have a long leg portion 24 and a short leg portion 25. The relatively short sides 26 of the rails 15 and 16 are provided, in the upper ends thereof, with longitudinal extending slots 27 that are open at their upper ends.

The ladder element 11 is similar to the ladder element 10 and comprises side rails 30 and 31 that have steps 32 disposed therebetween and secured as by tabs 33 to the side rails and connected thereto as by suitable rivets 34. The upper ends 35 of the side rails 30 and 31 have a portion of the angle material cut away thereby to define straight plate members having rounded ends 36. The ends 35 are adapted to carry rivets 37 that are adapted to extend therethrough and through the slots 23 whereby hingedly to connect the ladder elements 10 and 11 together. The pivot member or rivet 37 together with the slot 23 and various adjoining parts comprise the pivot arrangement indicated generally at 12.

As shown primarily in Fig. 2, the upper end of the ladder element 10 and the side rails 15 and 16 thereof have depended therefrom in a direction oppositev from the plates 35, a pair of plates 40 that are secured to the side rail portions 26 as by welding, riveting or the like. A platform for paint buckets or the like is indicated generally at 41 and is disposed in pivotal relationship to the plates 40 as by pivot pins 42 which extend outwardly from a transverse bar or brace element 43. When in an extended position, as shown in Fig. 3, the platform 41 and a short extension portion 44 thereof are adapted to extend beneath one of the steps 18 of the ladder element 10 to maintain the platform 41 in a horizonal position. The slot 27 through the portions 26 of the side rails 15 and 16 also extends through an overlying portion of the plates 40. As will be hereinafter more fully described, locking rivets 45 are connected to portions of the rails 30 of the ladder element 11 and extend inwardly therefrom. A spacer 46 is utilized with each of the rivets 45 and extends between one end there of and an inner surface of the rails 36 and 31. The rivets 45 are adapted for cooperation with the slot 27 to maintain the ladder elements in coextensive relationship and form one of the locking means indicated generally at 13.

The locking means indicated generally at 14 comprises a pair of angularly disposed slots 47 in the lower outer edge of the plates 40.

for cooperation with the uppermost of the steps 32 of the. ladder member 11 in order to lock the upper portions of positive angular rela- The slots 47 are adapted the ladder members and 11 in tionship. I

The lower ends of the ladder elements ltland 11 are .maintained in spaced relationship when. in an angularly disposed position, as by brace members 48 pivotally connected'as at 50 to the rail members 15 and 16 of the ladder element 10. Other ends of the braces are pro. vided with hooks 51 and are adapted for cooperation invention. It is, therefore, not desired to restrictthe invention to thecparticular form of construction ,illuswith wing nuts 52 arranged in the side rails 39 and 31 of L the ladderelement 11. When the braces 58 are in a stowed position, the book ends 51 thereof are adapted to Fig. 1 for stowage thereof with the pivot rivet 37 disposed in the leg of the slot 23. This arrangement enables the elements to lie fiat against each other thereby eliminating any spacing of the lower ends thereof and taking considerably less room for stowage than otherwise would be required. It is also to be noted that the platform 41 is adapted to fold intermediate the plates 46 and to be retained in'posiiton as by a spring loaded pin 54 carried by a U-shaped bracket 55 and cooperable with one'or more openings (not shown) in one of the plates 40. g V a a When it is desired to utilize the composite ladder of Fig. 1 about the pivots 37 with these pivots travelling in the legs 25 of the slot 23 and then downwardly in the legs 24 of the slot 23. Simultaneously with movement of the pivots through the legs 24, the latching rivet 45 is moved into the open ended slot 27 in the rail portions 26 thereby, as seen in Fig. 2, to lock the ele-. ments 10 and 11 in the desired coextensive position.

Through use of the latching arrangement of the. rivets 45, the twoladder elements'lfl and 11 are rigidly held in this position with the fiat upper. surfaces of the steps 18 t and 32 being presented for easy and comfortable ascent and des'cent thereon a When his desired to utilize the present composite trated and described, but 'to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims. 7

1 Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A composite jointed ladder comprising a pair of lad- I V der members having side rails and steps, said side rails p and steps being formed of angle members having two sides, pivot means interconnecting said ladder members,

said pivot means being formed to comprise a sliding con- 7 nection between the ladder members and located in oppositely facing sides of said side rails, latch means to hold said ladder members in an extended position and formed 10 hold the pivot means in'non-sliding condition, said latch means being located in the other sides of said side rails, and a pair of transversely spaced plates fixedly mounted on one of said ladder members adjacent said pivot means, said plates being each formed with a notch to engage with one of the steps of the other ladder member to hold said ladder members in an angular position, the mentioned sliding connection of the pivotmeans enmembers, slidable pivot means interconnecting said ladder members, and a pair of fixed plates mounted on one of j said ladder members adjacent'said pivot means, said plates being formed .to have notche's. and. said: notches being adapted to engage'with one of the steps ofthe other ladder member to hold said ladder members in 'an angu lar position, the mentioned sliding connection of the pivot means enabling relative displacement of the ladder mem hers andengagement of the plate notches'with said ladder step. 1

3. A'composit'e jointed ladder comprising the combina-I tion of a pair of ladder members having side rails and steps, said side rails'and steps being formed of right angle members, slidable pivot means interconnecting said ladder members, said pivotmeans consisting of slots located in ladder in its folded condition, the ladder element 11: is 7 moved in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Fig. l until the position, as shown in Fig. 3, is reached, 'the' element 11 having passed aboutathe' top portion of the element 10. In'this position, the pivots 37 are'moved first downwardlyand then upwardly in the slot portions 7 24in order to lock the portion of the uppermost step-32 in the element 11 into the slots 47 in the plates 40.

Thereafter, the 'braces 48 are moved into the position shown in Fig. 3 and the wing nuts 52are tightened. It is to be noted that the final position of thel'pivots 37 relative to the slot 23 are in the upper ends of the por- 1 tions 24 'oftthe slot and just prior to enterin'g into'the portions 25 thereof. Accordingly, due to the latching arrangement 14 and the relationship thereof with the: a

V pivots 37 and slots 23 defines a rigid interconnection be-.

" j tween theelements 19 and'll thatiwould'otherwise be freely movable from one position to another V a While I have illustrated'and described what lnow con template to be the. best'mode ofcarrying out my invention, theconstruction is',-of course, subject to. modific'a-j tion without departing from the spirit and scope of the oppositely facing sides of the side rails of one ladder member and pivot members carried by' the other ladder.

.member', a pair of fixed plates mounted on one of said 7 ladder members adjacent said pivot means, said'plates a being'forined to have notches and said notches being parallel to said side rails, and slot means in said plates adapted to engage with one of the. steps of the'other ladder member to hold said ladder'members in an angular posi tion, the mentioned sliding connection ofthe pivot means enabling relative displacement of the ladder members and engagement of'the plate notches with said ladder step, j

ReferencesCited' in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 1, 

